Dr. Robert Lee MD

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Get to know Ophthalmologist Dr. Robert T. Lee, who serves patients in South Bend, Indiana.

Dr. Lee is a highly trained ophthalmologist who has been in private practice at Retina & Vitreous LLC in South Bend, Indiana since 1998. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of vitreoretinal diseases, which include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, retinal tear and detachment, and retinopathy of prematurity. 

He performs a multitude of in-office procedures, ranging from various laser treatments to intravitreal injection of medications, as well as major surgical procedures in the operating room setting. He also holds privileges at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, serving as the Director for Retinopathy of Prematurity Care at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and at Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical Center.

Taking pride in the care he provides, Dr. Lee has committed himself to his patients’ overall well-being by devoting his full efforts to finding the optimal treatment for the best possible outcome for their condition. It is very important to him to utilize the most current medical treatments and advanced surgical techniques to treat each patient’s individual needs.

In direct affiliation with his industry, he is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retina Specialists, the American College of Surgeons (Fellow), the ACERS Society, and the Cordes Eye Society.

Growing up in Rockville, Maryland, Dr. Lee graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He earned his medical degree from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine in 1992. During medical school training, he was awarded the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Medical Student Research Training Grant. Furthering his education, he completed his internship within the Department of Medicine at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco in 1993, and his residency within the Department of Ophthalmology at the UCSF in 1996 where he served as Chief Resident of Ophthalmology. Two years later, in 1998, he graduated from the vitreoretinal surgical fellowship at the Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma.

With a commitment to excellence, the doctor is board-certified in ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). The ABO is an independent, non-profit organization responsible for certifying ophthalmologists in the United States of America.

Having shared his experience in retinal and vitreous surgery, Dr. Lee continues his teaching to ophthalmologists, optometrists, and other health care professionals in the Northern Indiana medical community. His teaching activities also included supervision of student research at the UCSF and Fluorescein Angiography Conference at the Dean McGee Eye Institute, where he was the organizer and conference leader. 

In addition to having conducted many lecture presentations nationally, he is the author of numerous scientific publications, including studies in Biochemistry, Journal of Chromatography, Nature, Neuropeptides, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, and Retina.

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Ophthalmologists are experts in the diseases, functions, and anatomy of the eye. They may provide routine care such as vision testing, as well as prescribe and fit eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, ophthalmologists are also surgeons. They repair traumatic injuries to the eye and perform cataract, glaucoma, and corneal surgery.

Cited as “America’s Top Ophthalmologist” in Retina/Vitreous surgery by Consumers’ Research Council of America annually since 2009, Dr. Lee’s various honors and awards include: Dean’s List from Johns Hopkins University; Biology Honors Program from Johns Hopkins University; National Finalist at the American Medical Association’s Symposium for Scientific Advancement and Excellence in Medical Student Research; Neurosciences Subspecialty Award at Western Medical Student Research Forum; Dean’s Prize in Research-Finalist and Winner at the University of California School of Medicine; Howard Hughes Medical Student Research Training Fellowship; and March of Dimes Medical Honoree for Northern Indiana. 

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